Building acoustic panels? Use metal stud for frame.

[Drumhum]

I need to build a (very) large cloud for my studio. It will provide shade, due to windows in the ceiling, as well as acoustic damping. I've been struggling with design ideas for ages and I think I've come up with a cunning plan. A plan so cunning I thought I'd share, as I haven't seen this suggestion before.

Its the use of metal stud for framing rockwool/fibreglass slabs. This steel stud, often called "C" and "U" channel is normally used in walls instead of wood for stud partitions.

The cool thing is that this stuff is made in typical sizes to perfectly accommodate insulation material - ie 30mm, 50mm and 100mm. The "C" channel stuff slots into the U channel and you can fix it in place with simple pop-rivets.

Using it to frame a typical slab of insulation means its quick and easy to use and will provide a very robust protection for the edges of your acoustic panels.

Its cheap (about £4 for 3m length) and light in weight.

The downside is that you'll loose some absorbency from the panel because of metal covered sides, but having just constructed 20 or so panels I can see advantages in trading off performance for ease of construction. If you are really picky I guess you could drill holes in the sides to increase absorbency.


I've attached pics of the stuff I'm taking about plus my design for my cloud. (I'd welcome any feedback on my cloud design BTW)

Just thought it might provide ideas for others :-)

[spm_gl]

We've just built a 4x3m cloud for our new mastering room. Also initially considered metal studs (simply because we have some left over from building the walls), but it is rather difficult to attach the fabric covering to metal. You could of course first wrap the isolation stuff in fabric and leave the metal visible.

[Drumhum]

Originally Posted by spm_gl

You could of course first wrap the isolation stuff in fabric and leave the metal visible.

That was my plan. It might be a little tricky to be wrinkle-free as theres no frame to stretch the fabric onto but with the right fabric I'm sure its possible.

Out of interest, how did you make your cloud in the end? Wooden frame?

[spm_gl]

We used a wooden frame, suspended the glasswool with a mesh fabric, and covered the frame with a single piece of white fabric.

[fabricaudio]

We used metal frames, have look here (they are all different links of the building progress)


http://www.gearslutz.com/board/3971860-post62.html

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/3975467-post65.html

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/4004413-post79.html

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/4171500-post182.html

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/4234964-post201.html

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/4266420-post213.html

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/4326603-post232.html

Nikolas

[spm_gl]

Note that our cloud is slanted, because the rather stiff fabric reflects high frequencies. We'll have a lot of curtains in our room, so we need to be careful not to absorb to much.

[Glenn Kuras]

wow guys these all seem like great ideas!!thumbsup